Moving from Mobile, AL to Houston, TX
About 515 miles across a state line, from Alabama into Texas, so the federal interstate rules apply from the first quote.
Distance estimated from city coordinates; the calculator measures your exact route. Prices from our published model, not quotes.
In short
Moving from Mobile, AL to Houston, TX covers about 515 miles and is an interstate move. Full-service movers cost $2,318 – $3,090 for a two-bedroom home in our model, delivered in 3 to 7 days. About 175 people a year move between the two counties (Census).
The route
At 515 miles between Alabama and Texas, this sits in the range where carriers differ most. Some run it dedicated with a firm date; others consolidate it with other shipments and quote a window of 3 to 7 days. The price gap between those two is real — a two-bedroom home runs $2,318 – $3,090 full-service — so ask which one you are buying.
- Move type
- Interstate move
- Driving
- about 9 hours
- Usually moves on
- either a dedicated truck or a consolidated load
- Book ahead
- 4 to 6 weeks
Cost of moving from Mobile to Houston
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,738 – $2,318 | $1,251 – $1,669 | $834 – $1,112 |
| 1 bedroom | $2,086 – $2,781 | $1,502 – $2,002 | $1,001 – $1,335 |
| 2 bedrooms | $2,318 – $3,090 | $1,669 – $2,225 | $1,112 – $1,483 |
| 3 bedrooms | $2,665 – $3,554 | $1,919 – $2,559 | $1,279 – $1,706 |
| 4 bedrooms | $3,013 – $4,017 | $2,169 – $2,892 | $1,446 – $1,928 |
| 5+ bedrooms | $3,476 – $4,635 | $2,503 – $3,337 | $1,669 – $2,225 |
Transport only, for an estimated 515 miles, from our published model: distance × home-size factor × service rate, shown as −10% to +20% around the base figure. Packing, storage, stairs and specialty items sit on top. How we price it.
Worked example: a two-bedroom home, Mobile to Houston
515 miles × 2.0 (two-bedroom size multiplier) × $2.50 (full-service rate) = $2,575. The range runs 10% under that to 20% over: $2,318 to $3,090, transport only. Every parameter is on the methodology page; moving cost per mile explains why the rate falls with distance.
How many people move from Mobile to Houston
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates that about 175 people a year (±161) moved from Mobile County, AL, home to Mobile, to Harris County, TX, home to Houston. Going the other way: about 216 people a year (±147). Movers from Mobile County make up 0.1% of the 161,852 people a year who moved into Harris County from another county or state.
At state level, the 2024 survey counts about 7,015 people a year (±1,777) moving from Alabama to Texas and about 7,428 people a year (±2,159) from Texas to Alabama — a net gain for Alabama of about 413 people a year.
| County | People a year |
|---|---|
| Montgomery County, AL | 1,247 ±751 |
| Baldwin County, AL | 1,173 ±462 |
| Jefferson County, AL | 770 ±274 |
| Tuscaloosa County, AL | 722 ±367 |
| Livingston Parish, LA | 663 ±678 |
| County | People a year |
|---|---|
| Fort Bend County, TX | 18,579 ±2,596 |
| Montgomery County, TX | 10,582 ±1,455 |
| Galveston County, TX | 8,597 ±1,326 |
| Brazoria County, TX | 8,258 ±1,347 |
| Bexar County, TX | 4,773 ±970 |
Licensed movers at each end
18 household-goods carriers with interstate authority are based within 30 miles of Mobile (32 counting those licensed only inside Alabama). 8 of them had a roadside inspection in the last 24 months, and 18.2% of their 44 vehicle inspections ended with a truck put out of service. The largest by registered fleet:
| Carrier | Based in | Size | Inspections, 24 mo | Vehicle out of service |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Port City Transfer LLCUSDOT 3324282 | Irvington · 19 mi | 17 trucks | 41 | 18.9% of 37 |
| Eastern Shore Transfer IncUSDOT 2644092 | Spanish Fort · 10 mi | 6 trucks | 5 | 100.0% of 1 |
| J & W Moving & Storage Company IncUSDOT 163932 | Mobile · 6 mi | 4 trucks | 2 | 0.0% of 1 |
| Teague Brothers Transfer and Storage Company IncUSDOT 295775 | Theodore · 14 mi | 4 trucks | 2 | 0.0% of 1 |
| College Hunks Hauling Junk & MovingUSDOT 3579426 | Daphne · 12 mi | 3 trucks | 0 | — |
| DND Logistics and Moving LLCUSDOT 4119095 | Mobile · 4 mi | 2 trucks | 0 | — |
How these figures are calculated
At the Houston end
For a local crew after delivery, the largest licensed carriers within 30 miles of Houston: 3 Men Movers (Houston, 95 trucks), G and S Moving & Storage (Houston, 35 trucks), Max Movers Inc (Houston, 32 trucks), K C Salley Relocation (Houston, 23 trucks).
Rules that apply to this move
Because the truck crosses from Alabama into Texas, 49 CFR Part 375 applies: a written estimate before loading, no more than 110% of a non-binding estimate collected at delivery, and full-value protection unless you choose released value in writing. See binding vs non-binding estimates and valuation explained.
Before you book Mobile to Houston
Ask: dedicated or consolidated?
This is the distance where carriers split. A dedicated truck costs more and delivers on a date; a consolidated load costs less and delivers in a window. Decide which you are buying before you compare prices.
Get it binding or not-to-exceed
A non-binding estimate is a guess with no ceiling. On 515 miles the gap between a guess and a weighed load is measured in four figures.
Arriving in Houston
A local move inside Houston later — across town, out of temporary housing — is billed by the hour: about $445 – $733 for a two-bedroom home and $741 – $1,344 for three bedrooms. The nearest cities we cover from Houston are Austin (about 171 mi), Corpus Christi (about 216 mi), San Antonio (about 221 mi).
Other routes from Mobile
All routes from Mobile, nearest first.
| Route | Distance | 2-bedroom, movers |
|---|---|---|
| Mobile to Montgomery, AL | ~181 mi | $815 – $1,086 |
| Mobile to Jackson, MS | ~196 mi | $882 – $1,176 |
| Mobile to Birmingham, AL | ~243 mi | $1,094 – $1,458 |
| Mobile to Tallahassee, FL | ~262 mi | $1,179 – $1,572 |
| Mobile to Huntsville, AL | ~340 mi | $1,530 – $2,040 |
| Mobile to Augusta, GA | ~471 mi | $2,120 – $2,826 |
| Mobile to Greenville, SC | ~508 mi | $2,286 – $3,048 |
| Mobile to Miami, FL | ~683 mi | $3,074 – $4,098 |
Also moving to Houston: from Austin, TX, from San Antonio, TX, from Corpus Christi, TX, from Lafayette, LA.
Mobile to Houston moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from Mobile to Houston?
From our published model, full-service movers over about 515 miles cost about $1,738 – $2,318 for a studio, $2,318 – $3,090 for a two-bedroom home and $2,665 – $3,554 for a three-bedroom home, transport only; packing, storage and specialty items are extra.
How long does a move from Mobile to Houston take?
The drive is about 9 hours, but the move usually takes 3 to 7 days because it moves on either a dedicated truck or a consolidated load, depending on the carrier and the season. Ask for the delivery window in writing. Book ahead: 4 to 6 weeks, 6 to 8 in summer.
What is the cheapest way to move from Mobile to Houston?
Loading a freight trailer yourself: about $1,112 – $1,483 for a two-bedroom home, against $2,318 – $3,090 with full-service movers; a moving container is $1,669 – $2,225.
Do I need an interstate-licensed mover for Mobile to Houston?
Yes. Mobile is in Alabama and Houston is in Texas, so the carrier needs active FMCSA interstate authority (an MC number) as well as a USDOT number. 18 listed movers within 30 miles of Mobile hold it.
How many people move from Mobile to Houston each year?
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates about 175 people a year (margin of error ±161) moved from Mobile County, which contains Mobile, to Harris County, which contains Houston.
Sources for this page
The published cost model; US Census Bureau ACS migration flows (± is the 90% margin of error); the FMCSA Motor Carrier Census and Safety Measurement System; 49 CFR Part 375. Data last refreshed September 24, 2026.